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Time for a New Adventure

Neady83

I've somehow been roped into being the fourth member of a team (Team ARSE) for the Beast of Ballyhoura 2015.

How, when I'm not at all into adventure racing?. Let me start at the beginning. I've never been an adventure racer or a triathlete or even thought about it (I can't swim) but I have for the past three to four years been into hiking and running, not on a super competitive scale but more on the fun side of things. I've done a handful of half marathons, lots of 10kms and all the races in-between, logging a PB of 1:52 for my HM and 48 minutes for a 10km (I'm no Mo Farah - I have one pace - slow). I've done lots of hiking challenges over the years, the Maamturks 4 times, the Mourne Wall, Joyce Country, Fei Sheehy challenge, plenty of 11 to 12 hour hikes in Kerry and around Europe and I've been to the Alps twice and done some pretty intensive 7 - 9 day hut to hut 4,000+ hikes over there.

Some of the guys that I hike with have done all sorts of crazy challenges during their lifetimes, they're iron-men, marathon runners, climbers, divers etc. Last year a group of us went on a hiking trip to Wales where we had pencilled in a long hike that would take in all of the 3,000+ peaks in Wales. It took three of us 21 hours to complete, it was tough but it was super enjoyable. After coming home from Wales, I got an e-mail from three of my hiking friends asking if I'd like to be their team mate for an adventure race called the Beast of Ballyhoura in 2015 (they needed a girl to complete the team). I'd survived a 21 hour hike without complaint so I was deemed mad enough to take on the Beast. I checked out some threads on the Beast - a 40 hours non-stop multi-sport race and I figured with over a year to train, I might just be able to pull it off though my first admission to the guys was that I can't swim (but I'm not afraid of the water) and they said we could get around that so I threw my hat in the ring. And so it is that I am here - now a month into my full on training for the Beast.

I'm keeping this training log in a bid to get advice from all of you with way more experience than me and to share this mad mad journey with you.

p.s. Subsequent to my agreement to be part of Team Adventure Race Squad Extreme (ARSE) it was announced that the Beast will this year be part of the European Championships and so will be 72 HOUS LONG, I know, absolute madness but I've put my hat in the ring now so there's no turning back.

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Neady83

November 6th – November 12th
Monday November 6th
AM 30mins Wattbike (15km recovery)
Followed up by 30mins S&C

Lunch 4miles @ 9:10/mi (37mins)
I’ve thrown my hat in the ring for Donadea 50km in February so I’ve jumped into the Gary O’ Hanlon 50km plan that’s doing the rounds. The plan is based on a 4 hour 50km so I’ve modified it for a 4:45/5 hour 50km. Today called for 4 miles @ easy pace.

PM 1 hour S&C
Going to try to get to these athelete specific one hour S&C sessions on a Monday as often as I can. The session starts with 10/15 minutes of foam rolling and dynamic stretching followed by band work and core work.

Tuesday November 7th
AM 1 hour circuits
Little bit stiff from last nights class so went light on weights and heavy on the bands.

Lunch 6.1miles @ 9:06/mi (55mins)
Today called for 5 miles @ easy pace.

PM 1.5 hours Yoga
20 minutes of breathing exercises
4 sun salutations
2 sun salutations holding each pose for a minute with a quick one in between
last quick sun salutation
Lots of twists

Wednesday November 8th
AM 30mins Wattbike & 30mins S&C
14km on the wattbike with 6x30sec sprints followed up with some S&C. Lots of foam rolling.

PM 8.1miles @ 9:02/mi (73mins)
Plan called for 8 miles easy and that is exactly what I did.

Thursday November 9th
AM Circuits

PM 10.1 @ 9:03/mi (91mins)
Plan called for 10 miles. It lashed rain and loads of places were flooded so I found a nice 1.5mile loop and kept with it.

Friday November 10th
AM 30mins Wattbike and 30mins S&C

PM 4.55miles @ 8:35/mi (40mins)
Plan: 30mins Tempo with 10mins WU
Tempo for me is 8:35/mi and paces were 8:28, 8:29, 8:30 & 8:40

Saturday November 11th
60mins turbo recovery
Spinning out the legs for some recovery.

Sunday November 12th
3.4miles @ 10:41/mi (36mins) & 12miles @ 9:19/mi (1hr 52mins)
Plan: 12miles: 8 @ 9:20 & last 4 @ 9:05
Did 3 miles warm up with Kieran around the woods in Clarinbridge. Found the next 12 difficult enough on my own, struggled to keep running and there was no picking up the pace at the end.

Maybe it’s too intense for my first week on the plan or maybe I seem to be having a good week/bad week - time will tell.

Totals for the week
7.5 hours running (48miles)
4 hours S&C
2 hour circuits
2.5 hours Turbo/wattbike

Neady83

snailsong wrote: »

You have some bouncebackability, Neady. A week after Dublin and you're doing 18 miles in the woods. And enjoying it.

Congrats on a fantastically successful year, so far.

Thank you P. I was enjoyable - I had an Ultra in Dorset to prepare for so that 18 miles did my head, even more than my body, good

snailsong

You have some bouncebackability, Neady. A week after Dublin and you're doing 18 miles in the woods. And enjoying it.

Congrats on a fantastically successful year, so far.

Neady83

October 30th – November 5th
Monday October 30th – Wednesday November 1st
Rest, celebrating and wallowing
Kieran was celebrating a milestone birthday on Monday so as a birthday treat I got him tickets to see Leeds play in Elland road on Tuesday so that meant I had to go too. We were on a flight to Leeds a few hours after I crossed finish line at DCM. I was surprised by how many people were going through security at Dublin airport with DCM finisher tops on them. A big crowd obviously travel for this race.

Endured the Leeds game on Tuesday (they lost and Kieran was rightly annoyed as he’s a die hard fan – a Mayo man who supports Leeds, how unlucky could you be).

Ate loads, slept loads and did very little. It was the perfect treat after DCM and gave me the space I needed to refocus and pick myself back up.

Thursday November 2nd
AM Circuits

PM 11.01 @ 8:58/mi (99mins)
Had today off work so arranged to meet Lonan for a lunch time run to debrief him on Dublin and plan our training for an upcoming Ultra trail run in Dorset in December.

A very enjoyable 11 miles along by the river and out around hilly Drum, in the countryside and back by the prom. Plans in place for the next few weeks. Feeling invigorated and chomping at the bit again.

Friday November 3rd
AM 15mins on the stepper and 30 mins S&C
Some recovery from yesterdays longish run and something different with the stepper.

PM 6.7miles @ 9:36/mi (63mins)
Easy running around the pitches in Dangan in the dark. Must remember head torch for future runs.

Saturday November 4th
6.1miles @ 9:06/mi (56mins)
Was heading for Clare in the AM so stopped into Clarinbridge to do two loops of the 5km route through the woods. Bumped into fellow adventurer Owen, who will be travelling to Dorset with me in December, and had a quick chat about long runs and plans for December. Nice frosty morning with lots of leaves on the ground – one of those mornings where you’re glad to be out before everyone else gets up

Sunday November 5th
18miles @ 8:48/mi (2hrs 38mins)
Headed into Kilrush with my brother to do this in the AM. There are lots of nice hilly loops in and around Kilrush so we decided on a 6.5mile loop to start. Comfortable and easy we were off with me setting the pace. Out by Cappa and along by the coast before turning into the woods and out around the town. My brother was feeling good so he said he’d do a second loop with me. Feeling the pinch slightly but generally the legs felt good – it was great to have company.

We got back to the car after 13 miles and my brother called it a day while I had 18 in my head so I headed towards the woods for one last short loop by myself. I love running in the woods, through the beautifully coloured leaves lying on the ground.

Delighted to see the pace afterwards and it helped to get me over my DCM slump.

Totals for the week
6.25 hours running (42miles)
0.5 hours S&C
1 hour circuits

Neady83

Baby75 wrote: »

Fair play to you that was not easy, I think your being a little hard on yourself but arent we all when we are dissapointed , But it takes great mental strength to keep going when everything in you is telling you to stop, it really knocks you when you feel that way during a run when negative thoughts creep in and seem to be winning, I can nod my head in agreement at some of the things you said I felt similar during my longest run prior to DCM at the 3/4 Marathon in enfield it thought me some huge lessons. my hubby felt the heat as well at DCM I was actually worried he would pass out on me, he even went into a shop and bought 2 cans of coke to drink really helped him though.

I have a great little ball for my foot works a treat!

Thank you Baby75, I'm glad you and your hubby got around unscathed. Coke is amazing though I had a bad experience with it lately as you'll see when I update my log

I've started massaging my foot with a small roller and a ball and it's really strenghtening it. A friend also recently told me about reformer pilates and how you use your feet a lot in it so I might add one class a week of that in the new year. If I keep going like this I'll be doing nothing but S&C

Dilbert75 wrote: »

I totally empathise with this - very similar experience for me. But 4:08 is very respectable under the circumstances (and I'd have been happy with it on the same day!). You've had a great year - you achieved lots and you can be very proud of yourself. I'm looking forward to hearing what's up for 2018!

Cheers C, yea, the tough days really put perspective on the good days don't they. Oh plans are afoot for 2018 already with some great races booked already. All will be revealed soon

Annie get your Run wrote: »

Ah god Neady you poor thing! I can empathise 100% having been through the death march in 2014 but I hadn't realised how much you suffered this year. You never gave up though, and that takes a different kind of strength. All we can do is learn from our experiences both good and bad and as dilbert said you've achieved SO MUCH this year. Looking forward to the rest of your updates where I know there is lots more good stuff .

Thank you AM, I buried my head after and didn't want to discuss it but I did write it down and felt that it's better that it's there for me to reflect on in the future. Roll on DCM 2018 where we both go out and put the Demons to rest

nop98 wrote: »

Well done Neady on all your adventures. You're clocking up some distances. And some more to come :eek:

Ahem. Fixed this part of your DCM report. You actually didn't look that bad at all, especially not compared to carnage all around you.

Sorry Nop (I should know better but at least I know you read it all

). I'll make it up to you in Howth

nop98

Well done Neady on all your adventures. You're clocking up some distances. And some more to come :eek:

Ahem. Fixed this part of your DCM report. You actually didn't look that bad at all, especially not compared to carnage all around you.

Neady83 wrote: »

Spotted Nop outside the Dutch Danish Embassy, gave him a high 5 and told him I was having a terrible time as I shuffled past – not sure my feet were even leaving the ground at this stage.

Annie get your Run

Neady83 wrote: »

I love the crowds in Dublin, they are amazing and they really spur you on but when you cannot run anymore, you know you can do better and you’re reduced to a walk/shuffle and they keep shouting your name, telling you to keep going, the finish line isn’t too far away ….. it’s humiliating and all you want is for the ground to open you up and swallow you. I felt like a fraud. I was berating myself for even lining up at the start line with the pitiful amount of training I’d done. All of these other finishers around me had put work into this and I felt shame.

I know 4:08 for a marathon isn’t bad but it wasn’t the time that hurt me, it was how terrible I felt – I lost a massive mental battle out there on the course and I don’t usually loose mental battles, I always try to cross the line with a smile on my face and be thankful for what I’m able to do. I’d done a marathon in Clarinbridge 6 week previously and comfortably ran 4 hours, gotten an injury and still went out too fast.

Ah god Neady

you poor thing! I can empathise 100% having been through the death march in 2014 but I hadn't realised how much you suffered this year. You never gave up though, and that takes a different kind of strength. All we can do is learn from our experiences both good and bad and as dilbert said you've achieved SO MUCH this year. Looking forward to the rest of your updates where I know there is lots more good stuff

Dilbert75

Neady83 wrote: »

Mile 20 to 26: 9:12, 9:36, 10:49, 10:05, 10:14, 10:48
I’ve often heard of the death march home, I’ve seen the carnage between mile 20 and 26 but I’ve never been part of it until today. I’ve just about come to terms with how terrible I felt here. I’ve never had to walk on a marathon, I’ve always been able to muster up some energy from somewhere to shuffle on but there was nothing. I was grabbing sweets off strangers and shoving them down my throat to give me energy but my quads were in bits, I couldn’t lift my legs anymore. I was cramping under my rib cage and breathing was getting difficult.

I used every trick that I’ve used in all of the races I’ve done that have challenged me to get me going again but I just couldn’t run. I walked, shuffled and jogged the last few miles home. Spotted Nop outside the Danish Embassy, gave him a high 5 and told him I was having a terrible time as I shuffled past – not sure my feet were even leaving the ground at this stage.

I love the crowds in Dublin, they are amazing and they really spur you on but when you cannot run anymore, you know you can do better and you’re reduced to a walk/shuffle and they keep shouting your name, telling you to keep going, the finish line isn’t too far away ….. it’s humiliating and all you want is for the ground to open you up and swallow you. I felt like a fraud. I was berating myself for even lining up at the start line with the pitiful amount of training I’d done. All of these other finishers around me had put work into this and I felt shame.

I know 4:08 for a marathon isn’t bad but it wasn’t the time that hurt me, it was how terrible I felt – I lost a massive mental battle out there on the course and I don’t usually loose mental battles, I always try to cross the line with a smile on my face and be thankful for what I’m able to do. I’d done a marathon in Clarinbridge 6 week previously and comfortably ran 4 hours, gotten an injury and still went out too fast.

I totally empathise with this - very similar experience for me. But 4:08 is very respectable under the circumstances (and I'd have been happy with it on the same day!). You've had a great year - you achieved lots and you can be very proud of yourself. I'm looking forward to hearing what's up for 2018!

Baby75

Fair play to you that was not easy, I think your being a little hard on yourself but arent we all when we are dissapointed , But it takes great mental strength to keep going when everything in you is telling you to stop, it really knocks you when you feel that way during a run when negative thoughts creep in and seem to be winning, I can nod my head in agreement at some of the things you said I felt similar during my longest run prior to DCM at the 3/4 Marathon in enfield it thought me some huge lessons. my hubby felt the heat as well at DCM I was actually worried he would pass out on me, he even went into a shop and bought 2 cans of coke to drink

really helped him though.

I have a great little ball for my foot works a treat!

Neady83

Baby75 wrote: »

Great to see you back Neady hope the foot is 100% now mine is only better now after I stepped on a bottle during DCM

Thank you Baby 75

Yea, I haven't had any problems with it since thankfully but I'm doing lots of stretching and looking after it

Singer wrote: »

Spoilers!!!

You don't even need to read the next week of training and the DCM report - you know exactly what's going to happen

Neady83

October 23rd – October 29th: Week of DCM
Monday October 23rd
AM 6.21miles @ 9:39/mi (60mins)
Starting to feel a bit better and found it easier to get up this morning.

PM 6.26miles with 10xshort hill repeats (60mins)
I did these on this short sharp hill on the pitches in Dangan at lunch. Yes, definitely more pep in my step today. Why did I do hills on the week of DCM … god only knows but I wanted to feel my legs work again.

Tuesday October 24th
AM Circuits

PM 2.9miles @ 10:32/mi (30mins)
Few easy miles with the C25K group

90mins Yoga
20 minutes of breathing exercises
4 sun salutations
2 sun salutations holding each pose for a minute with a quick one in between
last quick sun salutation
Lower back exercises

Wednesday October 25th
AM 3.1miles @ 9:34/mi (30mins)

PM 6.1miles @ 9:45/mi (60mins)

Thursday October 26th
Circuits

Friday October 27th – Saturday October 28th
Rest
Took the bus to Dublin on Saturday to meet up with my brother and the West Clare tri gang who I’d arranged to stay with in an Air B&B on Merrion square. I turned out that the Air B&B peeps cancelled the accommodation late on Friday night due to an issue with the electrics so we ended up in a different Air B&B out near Castleknock.

There were three of us girls, two lads and three double beds. It was the first marathon for the two lads and one of the girls and the other girl was supporting. I volunteered to take the couch as I wasn’t putting much pressure on myself to get around DCM so it didn’t matter if I didn’t get much sleep. As it turned out, I got none, the couch was one of those that was worn out and held together with sticky tape so between the rustling of the tape and me slipping down between the cushions and the back of the couch, there was nada sleep.

Sunday October 29th: Dublin City Marathon 2017
26.2miles @ 9:18/mi
I’d signed up for wave two so got into my wave really early and lined up waaaaayyyyy back from the 3:50 pacer. Met Snailsong, who was on pacing duty, for a minute and wished him luck. Made one last trip to the loo and before I knew it we were off.

Yes, I was also asking myself what pace I was going to run at!! Trotted off at what felt comfortable and decided I stick to running as comfortably as I could for the entire race. Pace for the first 4 or 5 miles was reasonable and I felt ok (8:59, 8:39, 8:55, 8:40, 8:40). I always find the first 4 or 5 miles in a race the most difficult as I try to settle in.

Mile 6 to 13: 8:38, 8:43, 8:23, 8:30, 8:23, 8:48, 8:37, 8:46
Really getting into my stride here, feeling comfortable and finding a bit more pep in my step – spotted TFGR in the park with her aid station. High fived some kids. Enjoyed the crowds and soaked it all up. Spotted AGYR and gave her a wave and said hello 

Mile 14 to 19: 9:10, 9:01, 9:10, 9:02, 9:13, 10:37
Are those my wheels over there? Oh yes they are, they’re coming off my wagon. Just after we went through the half way mark an unbelievable blast of heat came over me. I felt cold but I knew I wasn’t cold, I was hot. I was starting to feel prickly with the heat and had visions of being collapsed on the ground so grabbed water to pour over my head and decided to slow it right down but I was struggling badly. The joy was very quickly going out of this run.

I’ve never had to stop to pee in a marathon and I drink lots during races but I really needed the loo at mile 19 so I stopped and used the portaloo. Sat there for what felt like an eternity trying to decide whether I should continue on or not – I had brought €20 with me to catch a bus if I needed as I wasn’t sure whether the foot would hold up (in hindsight, that’s a very defeatist attitude to go into a race with). It was hurting much too much – not my foot, by entire body. 7 miles was all that was left, surely I could crawl it if I had to so I did. Grabbed another bottle of water – drank half and poured the rest over my head.

Mile 20 to 26: 9:12, 9:36, 10:49, 10:05, 10:14, 10:48
I’ve often heard of the death march home, I’ve seen the carnage between mile 20 and 26 but I’ve never been part of it until today. I’ve just about come to terms with how terrible I felt here. I’ve never had to walk on a marathon, I’ve always been able to muster up some energy from somewhere to shuffle on but there was nothing. I was grabbing sweets off strangers and shoving them down my throat to give me energy but my quads were in bits, I couldn’t lift my legs anymore. I was cramping under my rib cage and breathing was getting difficult.

I used every trick that I’ve used in all of the races I’ve done that have challenged me to get me going again but I just couldn’t run. I walked, shuffled and jogged the last few miles home. Spotted Nop outside the Danish Embassy, gave him a high 5 and told him I was having a terrible time as I shuffled past – not sure my feet were even leaving the ground at this stage.

I love the crowds in Dublin, they are amazing and they really spur you on but when you cannot run anymore, you know you can do better and you’re reduced to a walk/shuffle and they keep shouting your name, telling you to keep going, the finish line isn’t too far away ….. it’s humiliating and all you want is for the ground to open you up and swallow you. I felt like a fraud. I was berating myself for even lining up at the start line with the pitiful amount of training I’d done. All of these other finishers around me had put work into this and I felt shame.

I know 4:08 for a marathon isn’t bad but it wasn’t the time that hurt me, it was how terrible I felt – I lost a massive mental battle out there on the course and I don’t usually loose mental battles, I always try to cross the line with a smile on my face and be thankful for what I’m able to do. I’d done a marathon in Clarinbridge 6 week previously and comfortably ran 4 hours, gotten an injury and still went out too fast.

It doesn’t take too much analysis to see what exactly went wrong. Now here’s the line. It’s on paper. Step over it and take on the next challenge.

Totals for the week:
8.25 hours running (51miles)
1.5 hours S&C
2 hours circuits

Singer

Neady83 wrote: »

Been logging sporadically in a word doc but it's only now that I've looked over my training or lack of that I've realised why DCM wen t*ts up for me.

Spoilers!!!

Baby75

Great to see you back Neady hope the foot is 100% now mine is only better now after I stepped on a bottle during DCM

Neady83

Kurt.Godel wrote: »

Ain't that the truth! This forum is like a ghosttown at the moment but logging serves a useful purpose. Good luck catching up the next couple of months worth!

Cheers Kurt, it's good to be back. Been logging sporadically in a word doc but it's only now that I've looked over my training or lack of that I've realised why DCM wen t*ts up for me.

ThebitterLemon wrote: »

Posting all this from memory are you

Good to see you back

TbL

Cheers TBL

I do have an excel file where I record everything regardless and I write up a bit of a log every now and then but need to pull it all together.

Good to see you making great progress too after your op.

ThebitterLemon

Posting all this from memory are you

Good to see you back

TbL

Kurt.Godel

Neady83 wrote: »

One thing I’ve learned from not logging is that logging makes me accountable and keeps me honest

Ain't that the truth!

This forum is like a ghosttown at the moment but logging serves a useful purpose. Good luck catching up the next couple of months worth!

Neady83

September 25th – October 1st

Monday September 25th – Wednesday September 27th
Rest
Still seeing the physio but my foot isn’t strong enough yet to go back running. Side-lined and feeling like crap. Will remember this and how crap I felt.

Thursday September 28th
Circuits

Friday September 29th
25mins Wattbike & 25mins S&C

Saturday September 30th
32km Cycle
Still haven’t go the go ahead to go back running so decided to be a good sister and accompany my brother on his long run. A very slow 32km.

Sunday October 1st
6.05miles @ 9:40/mi (60mins)
Green light, green light and back at it.
Around and around the very soft track and no discomfort.
Things are looking up and four weeks to go to DCM (buries head in hands).

Totals for the week:
1 hour running (6miles)
0.5 hours S&C
1 hour circuits
2.5 hours Cycling/Wattbike

October 2nd – October 8th

Monday October 2nd
1 hour physio
My last physio session wohoooo

Tuesday October 3rd
AM Circuits

PM 3.2miles @ 11:48/mi (39mins)
Few easy miles with the C25K group

Wednesday October 4th
90mins Yoga
20 minutes of breathing exercises
4 sun salutations
2 sun salutations holding each pose for a minute with a quick one in between
last quick sun salutation
Few hip opening poses and some really good glute stretches before relaxation

Thursday October 5th
3.2miles @ 10:36/mi (34mins)
Another few easy miles with the C25K group.
Feel like I’ve lost my mojo for running even though I’ve got the go ahead from the physio.

Friday October 6th
AM 6miles @ 9:37/mi (58mins)
Easy miles, running by feel trying to get my mojo back.

PM 2miles @ 10:29/mi
Few slow miles with Kieran

30mins Turbo
Finally bought me a turbo and got it assembled in time to get this done. Went for the direct drive Elite Muin so it’s nice and sturdy. Still have to mount the sensor to get the data but this will do for now.

Saturday October 7th
6.4miles @ 9:17/mi (60mins)
Got out to do this at early o clock before heading off to a Hen party in Co. Meath.

Sunday October 8th
6.7miles @ 10:32/mi (71mins)
Laced up before the other hens got out of bed and took tot eh trails around Lough Crew in Co. Meath. Beautiful grounds and it was fun to do some exploring though I was going under and over lots fences and gates which didn’t help the pace.

Totals for the week:
4.75 hours running (27.65miles)
1.5 hours S&C
1 hour circuits
0.5 hours Turbo

October 9th – October 15th
Monday October 9th
AM Circuits

PM 1 hour S&C
Found a new S&C class being done in a newly opened gym in the Solerno gym on Threadneedle Road especially tailored to runners so decided to give it a go.

There was only one other person there so it was like a person training session. Told the trainer about my recent injury and he designed the class around it. Will try to make this part of my weekly routine.

Tuesday October 10th
AM Circuits

PM 3.3miles @ 10:23/mi (35mins)
Few easy miles with the C25K group

90mins Yoga
20 minutes of breathing exercises
4 sun salutations
2 sun salutations holding each pose for a minute with a quick one in between
last quick sun salutation
Inversions – love inversions

Wednesday October 11th
Rest

Thursday October 12th
Circuits

Friday October 13th – Sunday October 15th
Rest
Just not feeling the love for doing anything this week, particularly running. Tired and lethargic. Will start taking iron and Vitamin D and hopefully see some improvement.

Totals for the week:
0.5 hours running (3.3miles)
3 hours S&C
3 hours circuits

October 16th – October 22nd
It’s easier to focus on what I didn’t do this week instead of what I did do. Lots of rest. Still feeling tired and no motivation to train.
6.2miles on Tuesday and Circuits on Thursday.

Totals for the week:
1 hour running (6.2miles)
1 hour circuits

Neady83

Right where was I. One thing I’ve learned from not logging is that logging makes me accountable and keeps me honest so here we go. I’ll start with the week after the Kerry Way Ultra Lite as I picked up an injury and I think it’s important that I log it so that I remember exactly why I picked up an injury.

Monday September 4th
AM 20mins Wattbike (10km) & 20mins S&C
Recovery spin after the Kerry Way Ultra Lite. Legs feeling much too fresh for having run 38 miles on Saturday – I definitely didn’t leave it all out there. Kicking myself that I didn’t have the appetite for the race on Saturday.

PM 6.33miles @ 9:30/mi (60mins)
Recovery run after work. Jumped back into the Boards plan in the hope of getting around Dublin in some shape in October.

Tuesday September 5th
AM Circuits
Mostly core work.

PM 3.5miles @ 11:48/mi (41mins)
Run with the C25K group that I’m helping.

PM Yoga
Usual breathing exercises
8 sun salutations
followed by some lower back stretches.

Wednesday September 6th
AM 4.53miles @ 9:59/mi (42mins)
Forgot how difficult I find running in the mornings.

PM 8.17miles @ 9:33/mi (1hr 18mins)
Recovery run after work. Nothing interesting to note.

Thursday September 7th
AM Circuits
Lots of band work, I can confirm that my glutes are firing.

PM 3.5 miles @ 11:04/mi
Run with the C25K gang, they’re covering the distance faster each time.

Friday September 8th
Rest

Saturday September 9th
Clarinbridge marathon: 26.2 miles @ 9:14/mi (4hrs 1min 42secs)
Long run day and there was a looped marathon, half and 10km planned in Clarinbridge so I signed up for the marathon and aimed to do six of the 5km loops and leave it at that. Stuck some tape over the watch and ran this by feel, took it relatively easy after a heavy enough week of training. Chatted to some people on the way around and enjoyed my surroundings.

It was great when the half and 10km peeps started to go by as it was something to focus on – Martyboy sped passed, said hello but he was too focused to notice me

. After 6 laps, I was feeling good and relatively fresh so I slowed it down and kept on trucking for the final two laps.

Was delighted to finish and even more delighted to be told that I was the second lady home. Looked at my finish time and couldn’t believe I’d nearly gone sub-4 without much discomfort. This was a good omen for a 3:50 in Dublin.

Sunday September 10th
9.2miles @ 9:53/mi (1hr 31mins)
My friend from Kildare was staying with me this weekend and we had planned to head out to the new M18 motorway to do the 100km motorway cycle. We’d the bikes packed in the car and were up early to get on the road.

Unfortunately it was very gusty so we decided in the interest of safety, we’d give the cycle a miss and do a recovery run instead as we knew there would be nowhere to hide from the wind on the motorway. We were three of four miles in when my right foot started to hurt a bit but I was still able to run on it.

Came home, took off my runner and my foot started to swell straight away. I RICED it but I could see the bruising starting to appear and I knew I was in trouble.

Totals for the week:
10 hours running (61.5miles)
2 hours S&C
2 hours circuits
20mins Wattbike

Monday September 11th
1.5 hours physio
Not able to put any weight at all on my foot so high tailed it to the physio.
Bruised and swollen there wasn’t much he could do but he was fairly sure there was a tear in the muscle or the tendon. He was confident that it wasn’t the Achilles though there was lots of swelling in the Achilles area – more likely a tear in the bottom of the soleus muscle. RICE was all I could do until the swelling went down.

It’s an overuse injury plain and simple. I know exactly how it happened, I ramped up the mileage too quickly. Lesson learned but in my defence, there were no warning signs that something was about to give.

Tuesday September 12th
Rest

Wednesday September 13th
35mins S&C

Thursday September 14th
Circuits
Starting to go stark raving mad I did as much as I could without jumping or putting any pressure on my foot.

Friday September 15th
70 mins Physio
Swelling mostly gone down but still a lot of bruising and I’m still hobbling. Physio says it will be at least another 3 weeks before I’m back running but gives me the go ahead to do something on the wattbike on Sunday if there’s no pain.

Saturday September 16th
60mins wattbike: 20x30 sec sprints (30km) + 20mins S&C
No pain, happy days.

Sunday September 17th
A day of rest

Weekly Totals
1 hour Wattbike
1 hour Circuits
2 hours S&C

Monday September 18th – Sunday September 24th
Rest
I was in the Galway clinic on Monday morning at 8am to get my remaining two wisdom teeth out under general anaesthetic. My first time under general anaesthetic so was interested to see how it would go. No problems and I was eating ice cream and discharged after lunch.

Had plans to get lots of yoga and S&C done during the week but my hands took a beating from the anaesthetist who couldn’t find a vein so I wasn’t able to clench my fists, drive or do anything because of the swelling and bruising until Friday.

Baby75

Neady83 wrote: »

Thank you I'll write a race report for this one ðŸ˜ and do a bit of updating. Woohoo let the last adventure of the year begin

I will be looking forward to that

Annie get your Run

Neady83 wrote: »

Thank you I'll write a race report for this one ðŸ˜ and do a bit of updating. Woohoo let the last adventure of the year begin

Wasn't there something about a Howth marathon at the end of December

:D

ENJOY!!

Neady83

Baby75 wrote:

Good luck over the weekend Neady

Thank you

I'll write a race report for this one ðŸ˜ and do a bit of updating. Woohoo let the last adventure of the year begin

Baby75

Good luck over the weekend Neady

Annie get your Run

Yes indeed the very best of luck!!!!

jake1970

Best of luck tomorrow Neady.

denis b

Very best of luck S.

diego_b

Best of luck on Sunday Neady!!

Baby75

Well, Neady how are you getting on!!! any chance you are doing the 3/4 Marathon this year in Enfield the hubby registered us for it, I am hearing great reports on it

Annie get your Run

Neady83 wrote: »

I did, I saw that today, thank you. 100km ..... flat :eek: I dono about that. The hills are my friend Do you know the route? Is it pretty?

Well, when I looked first I assumed it was all along the canal which would be extremely pretty. I'm not sure though, UM1/Rockyman7 is organising it so shouldn't be too hard to find out!

Edit: it does seem to be mostly along the canal

Baby75

Well that's brilliant for a little bit of running

glad you got the points you needed as well fx you do get picked

annapr

Neady83 wrote: »

I've managed to squeeze a bit of running in when I can. The highlight was the Kerry Way UltraLite this weekend, a 58km trail run from Sneem to Killarney

:pac: :pac: you are too funny... just a bit of running.... over a few hills :pac: